U.S. patent number 4,721,222 [Application Number 06/890,858] was granted by the patent office on 1988-01-26 for combination beverage can carrier device and drinking accessory.
Invention is credited to James Haythornthwaite.
United States Patent |
4,721,222 |
Haythornthwaite |
January 26, 1988 |
Combination beverage can carrier device and drinking accessory
Abstract
A combination beverage can carrier device and drinking accessory
is disclosed. The device comprises a plurality of releasably
detachable hollow cylindrical extension members which are connected
to each other in parallel rows to form a carrier to be used in
connection with beverage cans. When used as a carrier, the
extensions are mounted flush to the top rim of the cans. Each
extension is readily detachable from each other, and when detached,
the extension can form a drinking accessory, such as a cup. When
detached, the extension is telescopically slid upwardly along the
outer surface of a can so that the top of the extension projects
beyond the top rim of the can. This arrangement allows the user to
directly drink from the can without touching his or her lips to the
metallic surface and thereby increase safety and hygiene. Further,
the extension and top surface of the can creates an area whereby
external additives, such as ice cubes may be added. Once the
consumer has finished the beverage, the can and member may be
simultaneously discarded or recycled.
Inventors: |
Haythornthwaite; James (Hudson,
Quebec, CA) |
Family
ID: |
25397232 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/890,858 |
Filed: |
July 31, 1986 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/23.4;
206/151; 220/4.03; 220/718 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G
23/0266 (20130101); B65D 71/504 (20130101); B65D
71/50 (20130101); B65D 25/50 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47G
23/02 (20060101); A47G 23/00 (20060101); B65D
71/50 (20060101); B65D 25/50 (20060101); B65D
25/38 (20060101); B65D 021/02 (); A47G
019/22 () |
Field of
Search: |
;220/23.4,90.2
;206/151 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1490673 |
|
Jun 1967 |
|
FR |
|
864155 |
|
Mar 1961 |
|
GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Lowrance; George E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fleit, Jacobson, Cohn &
Price
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A combination beverage can carrier device and drinking accessory
comprising:
a plurality of releasably detachable connected hollow cylindrical
shaped extension members, each sized so that its inside
circumferential surface can fit snugly around the circumference of
a can, each member being cylindrical over substantially its entire
length and sized so that its length is no longer than the length of
a can, and further designed so that when detached from said other
members, each member is capable of lengthwise telescopic movement
along the outer periphery of its associated can so as to extend
beyond the top rim of a can and define a drinking cup large enough
to accommodate a volume of liquid to be drunk while said member
remains attached to said can;
means for connecting said members to each other at their top
surfaces and at the top of the associated cans such that the entire
length of each of said members rests flush on the outer surface of
its associated can by means of frictional forces exerted both on
the external surface of the can and on the top rim of the can and
in parallel rows to form a carrier device;
means for detaching said members from each other; and
means for carrying said device.
2. The combination beverage can carrier device and drinking
accessory according to claim 1 wherein said device is made of
plastic.
3. The combination beverage can carrier device and drinking
accessory according to claim 1 wherein said carrier device
comprises six members connected in two parallel rows of three
members.
4. The combination beverage can carrier device and drinking
accessory according to claim 1 wherein said members are sized to be
used in connection with twelve ounce cans.
5. The combination beverage can carrier device and drinking
accessory according to claim 1 wherein said members are
disposable.
6. The combination beverage can carrier device and drinking
accessory according to claim 1 wherein said connecting means and
said detaching means define an integral element of the same
material.
7. The combination beverage can carrier device and drinking
accessory according to claim 6 wherein said element is plastic with
areas of weakness between respective extension members.
8. The combination beverage can carrier device and drinking
accessory according to claim 1 wherein said members are connected
to each other at regions along the upper outer surfaces of said
members.
9. The combination beverage can carrier device and drinking
accessory according to claim 1 wherein the length of each member is
sized so that when said member is extended beyond the top surface
of a can, the area formed by the top of the can and said member is
large enough to accommodate external additive elements, such as ice
cubes.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to accessories to be used in connection with
beverage cans, more specifically, to a combination beverage can
carrier device and drinking accessory.
2. Description of Prior Art
Modern cans for storing beverages, such as soda or beer, typically
contain snap top openers which are pulled to gain access to the
contents of the cans. The opening remaining after the opener has
been be pulled can have sharp edges. A consumer therefore can be
subject to potential danger when drinking directly from the can
because of the sharp edges.
To reduce potential health hazards, auxiliary devices, such as
cups, glasses or straws have been used in connection with beverage
cans, but if such devices are not present, the consumer has no
choice but to drink from the cans themselves.
Carrying beverage cans also can pose problems to the consumer.
Typically, unless a carrying container is provided, a consumer
cannot carry more than one or two cans in his or her hand at a
given time. Therefore, containers which house more than one can
have been invented, most notably the so called "six pack" which
consists of molded plastic designed to house six cans in two
parallel rows of three cans per row. Although the "six pack" has
been of great value to the consumer with respect to handling and
shipping, the "six pack" does not alleviate problems caused by the
sharp edges in the opening to the can if the consumer chooses to
drink from the can itself.
Prior to the present invention, no invention has been developed
which can provide the consumer with the two-fold benefit of safe
drinking from a beverage can without the use of an auxiliary
device, combined with the convenience of a carrier device.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,075,721 to Hommel, U.S. Pat. No. 2,729,956 to
Gilbert, U.S. Pat. No. 3,185,341 to Barbour, and U.S. Pat. No.
4,054,205 to Blow, Jr. et al., disclose respective attachments
adapted to be mounted onto the upper end of a can to serve as an
extended drinking lip so that the user does not directly touch his
or her lips to the can when drinking. None of these patents
disclose an attachment that is an integral part of a convenience
carrier package, such as a carrier for six cans.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,202,448 to Stern et al., and 3,350,131 to Tanzer,
disclose combined carrying units and coasters. In these patents,
the carrying unit contains respective members which are adapted to
fit over the top of a can and are detachable from each other so
that each top is removed with each can. The covering which covers
the top of the can is solid. In one embodiment in U.S. Pat. No.
3,350,131 to Tanzer, the top may be used as a drinking cup.
However, this arrangement is obtained only when the top is
physically removed from the can, is inverted and when the contents
of the can are then poured into the cup. This arrangement is
inconvenient in that the cup must be physically separated from the
can to effectuate its use.
Therefore, there exists a need for a combination beverage drinking
can accessory and carrier device whereby an accessory designed to
be mounted onto the top of the can may be used to provide a lip for
drinking the contents of the can without requiring the consumer to
touch his or her lips to the can and without removing the
attachment from the can, and where a plurality of accessories may
be combined to form a carrier to allow the consumer the convenience
of carrying several cans in one hand.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus, a purpose of the present invention is to provide a
combination beverage can accessory and carrier device whereby the
individual components of the carrier device may be converted to
form a drinking cup for use when consuming a beverage contained in
a can. The device is designed so that each drinking accessory is
mounted flush to the upper lip of a beverage can when the apparatus
of the present invention is to be used as a carrier. If an
individual chooses to drink from the beverage can, the cup which
surrounds the top of the can, and which forms part of the carrier
is releasably detached from the other cans and members so that the
consumer has one can with the cup mounted flush to the top of the
can. To use the cup as a drinking accessory, it is telescopically
slid up the side of the can until its lower surface engages with
the upper rim of the can. This arrangement then allows the consumer
to drink from the can, without having to press his or her lips
against the metallic surface of the can.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
combination beverage drinking can accessory and carrier device
whereby the accessory is used as a cup which has a smooth drinking
surface without requiring the accessory to be externally removed
from the can.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
combination drinking can accessory and carrier device whereby a
multiple number of drinking can accessories are formed together in
parallel rows to obtain a carrier device.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a
combination drinking can accessory and carrier device whereby the
top of each accessory is mounted flush to the upper rim of the can
when the accessories are used as a carrier.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an
accessory to prevent an individual from being sprayed with liquid
upon opening the top of a can.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become
apparent to those skilled in the art as the disclosure is made in
the following description of the preferred embodiment of the
present invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combination beverage drinking can
accessory and carrier device embodying the teachings of the instant
invention when the device is used as a carrier.
FIG. 2 is a view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a can and cup when the cup is in
its elevated position.
FIG. 4 is a view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In describing the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific
terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However,
the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms
so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term
selected includes all technical equivalents which operate in a
similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly FIG. 1, the
basic elements of the combination beverage can carrier device and
drinking accessory of the present invention are collectively
designated as 10. Device 10 is made of a one mold formation, and
preferably is made of plastic. Device 10 is formed by the
connection of a multiple number of hollow cylindrical sleeve-like
extensions or cups 12. Each extension 12 is sized so that its
inside circumferential surface can fit snugly around the surface of
a can 22, such as a twelve ounce can. In the preferred embodiment
of the present invention, six such extensions 12 are used and are
connected in two parallel rows of three extensions per row.
Extensions 12 are connected to each other by weakened intersection
regions 14 which are located along the upper outer surfaces of
extensions 12. Regions 14 are preferably made of the same plastic
as extensions 12 but are more thin, perforated or indented so that
they may easily be fractured in preference to other areas of the
extensions 12.
The connection of extensions 12 by regions 14, defines openings 16
when four extensions 12 are connected in a square or rectangular
formation. The openings 16 are located at the center of the square
or rectangular formation. In the preferred embodiment of the
present invention, by using six extensions 12 in two parallel rows
of three extensions per row, two such openings 16 will be produced.
The fingers of the individual may be inserted into openings 16 so
that device 10, and the cans that it secures, may be carried in one
hand.
Device 10 is mounted onto cans 22 in any suitable fashion. In the
preferred mounting arrangement, the top edge 20 of extension 12
should be mounted flush with the upper rim of a can 24. The length
of each extension 12 should not be longer than the length of its
corresponding can 22. Further, due to the mounting arrangement,
lower surface 18 of accessory 12 is engaged with the outer surface
of can 22 so that it rests flush against can 22. By this
arrangement, the frictional forces asserted on can 22 by edge 20
and surface 18, allows an individual to transport cans 22 by means
of holder 10 and openings 16 without longitudinally displacing
extensions 12 from the upper surfaces of cans 22. The dual
frictional force assembly is pictured in FIG. 2.
To remove a can 22 and its associated extension 12 from holder 10,
the consumer applies a force sufficient to fracture weakened
regions 14 by pulling the can away from its neighboring cans
remaining in device 10. Removal of one such can and extension will
not affect the other cans or other extensions as the remainder of
device 10 will be intact. Once a can 22 and extension 12 have been
removed from device 10, an individual can use accessory 12 as an
aid in drinking a beverage from can 26.
To use extension 12 as a drinking accessory, extension 12 is
telescopically slid longitudinally along the outer surface of can
22 so that the top edge 20 of extension 12 projects above the
surface of rim 24. To accomplish this, the user presses upwardly
with a force sufficient to overcome the frictional forces exerted
on can 22 by surface 18 and edge 20.
When extension 12 is fully extended above can 22, the overall
length of the can 22 and extension 12 assembly should approximate
the length of the can 26 and the length of extension 12, less an
amount which overlaps between the two. This result is shown in FIG.
3 in perspective, and in FIG. 4 in cross section. Referring to FIG.
4, when extension 12 is fully extended, the bottom portion 19 of
extension 12 is located in the depressed top area 26 of can 22 just
below rim 24 which is where the circumference at area 26 is less
than the circumference of rim 24. While not illustrated, extension
12 can be provided with an internal bead or other locking mechanism
to engage smaller-circumference area 26.
After extension 12 has been raised as shown in FIG. 3, can 22 may
be opened by typical means, such as top opener 28. When opening can
22, the user is protected from spurting liquid because the liquid
will be deflected by the inner surface of extension 12.
After opening the can, the consumer can consume the contents
without touching the metal surfaces of the can by use of extension
12 as a cup. Once the consumer has fully consumed the beverage in
can 22, can 22 and extension 12 may be discarded or recycled.
Further, ice cubes, lemon slices, etc., may be placed inside
extension 12 so that when the consumer drinks from can 22, the
liquid will be chilled and/or flavored upon contact with the
contents of the extension.
In addition, by designing accessory 12 to be made from plastic,
when an individual consumes a beverage from can 22, the individual
will not be subject to having his or her lips adhere to the
metallic surface of the can. This is especially advantageous when
the consumer is in a cold climate, such as a winter carnival or a
football game.
From the above, it should be apparent that many modifications and
variations of the present invention are possible. It is therefore
to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the
invention may be practiced otherwise than as is specifically
described.
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